Help is available whatever the exam result ...

More than 142,000 pupils in Scotland will receive their National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher

results next month.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has a free helpline offering advice, information and support for young people and their parents for the results coming out on Tuesday, August 9.

The helpline will be open from 8am to 8pm on August 9 and 10 and from 9am to 5pm until August 17. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.

Help is available from qualified careers advisers who have unique access to information on UCAS

course vacancies at UK colleges and universities, confirmation and clearing, advice about modern or foundation apprenticeships, employment or volunteering.

Danny Logue, SDS operations director, said: “Some people might not get the results they hoped for or may have done better than they anticipated.

“It is vital that young people and their parents don’t panic.

“The helpline is there to give support and information about all the different options young people can consider.”

Help and advice is also available from qualified careers advisers in SDS centres.

For more centre details and opening times visit www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk.

Joanna Murphy, chairman of the National Parent Forum of Scotland, said support is available for young people if they don’t get the results they are looking for: “I know from my own experiences that the SDS Exam Results Helpline is a real life line.

“It offers young people the chance to talk to someone who is impartial, which helps you to step back and take stock.

“One of my daughters didn’t do as well as expected in her fifth year and was devastated, but after talking to the careers advisers at the helpline she realised she had so many options available to her.”

She added: “It takes some of the heat out of the emotion of the day and reminds young people no matter the results, there is always a next step.”

Post-results information for pupils and parents is available on SDS’s My World of Work web

service.

There is also information about Modern Apprenticeships and Foundation Apprenticeships

at www.apprenticeships.scot. Students can also access help, advice and support via SDS’s Facebook page which has practical help and links to UCAS, SAAS, Young Scot and the SQA.